Historic First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, USA (founded 1837) is the largest Presbyterian congregation in the State and one of the largest in the United States. A flagship congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), First Church played a significant role in establishing the PCA (the largest conservative Presbyterian denomination in the English-speaking world), Reformed Theological Seminary, and Reformed University Ministries (a nationwide campus fellowship).

Saturday, September 30, 2006

What it means to be a member of First Presbyterian Church:The Five Questions of Membership (3)Resolved, by grace, to live as followers of ChristMatthew 16:24-26; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Romans 12:1-2

Introduction (review):1. Two weeks ago, we looked at the first question of membership: (1) Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?2. In this question we acknowledge that we are (1) sinners, (2) justly condemned and (3) without hope (apart from Christ).3. We said that two implications of this question (if we really understand and mean it when we answer it "I do") are that we will be (1) people of humility, (2) who rejoice in God’s sovereignty4. Last week, we considered the second question of membership: (2) Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the gospel?5. We said that this meant that Christians have faith in Christ’s person and work, alone. (1) Faith; (2) Person; (3) Work; (4) Alone6. The implications of this are many, but here are a few: understanding and meaning it when we answer this questions means that we realize that (1) we cannot save ourselves, that (2) for us salvation is a gift to be received not a status to be earned, that (3) life is radically Christ-centered and cross-centered; that (4) Jesus is our and everyone else’s only hope.7. Today, we come to the third question of membership: (3) Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?

All Christians are disciples, followers of Christ. All followers of Christ, are resolved, committed, have promised, to live like his followers, and they know that for this they will need the grace of the Holy Spirit.

I. All true Christians are resolved to live as followers of ChristMatthew 16:24-26 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

1 Peter 2:21-24 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Romans 12:1 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

II. All true Christians know that they can do this only by the grace of the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 36:27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

Philippians 2:12-13 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Last night, as I was preaching on Philip's preaching in Samaria and the observation that Luke makes in Acts 8:8 that there was "great rejoicing in the city" I turned this morning to Spurgeon to see what he had to say about this text. In a sermon preached on January 22, 1888, he made these comments as he brought the sermon to a conclusion:

"We long to have this great joy in London (now read Jackson ...). We want to see despairing souls made happy. My friend over yonder, who has been indulging in dark thoughts about whether he can manage to live any longer, -- his hand almost feels for the fatal knife, --live, poor soul, live! There is hope, there is joy even for thee! Jesus Christ is willing to forgive the chief of sinners, he is ready to renew the most debauched and depraved of men. He is able to make a saint of thee; he can at this moment take the burden from thy heart, and commence a work in thee which shall make thee a totally new man. What sayest thou to this? If thou canst believe in Jesus, there will begin to be a joy in this city, for there will be a joy in thy heart. I remember the day when I despaired of finding salvation, when I could not think that my sin would ever be forgiven; but that voice, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth," was a word of life and love to my soul; and I would repeat it to-night to those in this audience who are in the depths of despair. Do not give yourselves up; God has not given you up. Do not sign your won death-warrant; God has not signed it. "Come unto me," says Christ, "all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
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Remember Rick, "Baseball breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone" (A. Bartlett Giamatti, ex-commissioner, in "The Green Fields of the Mind"). My wife and I will be rooting for the home team this Friday night at Fenway.

The contributors to Suffering and the Sovereignty of God are well-qualified to speak about suffering not only because of their academic credentials or their position in the evangelical community. John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, and the other authors speak of the evidence of God’s sovereignty because they, too, write from a place of suffering. From the throes of paralysis, pain, death and cancer, they ask, "How does God’s sovereignty relate to human suffering?" These men and women are living and writing in the midst of both the suffering and the sovereignty.

This in-depth volume explores the many categories of God’s sovereignty as evidenced in his Word. The contributors tackle difficult applications of God’s sovereignty over suffering in areas including:• Racism and ethnicity• Sin• Missions and evangelism• The life and death of Christ

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God offers God’s complete control as the believer’s source of confidence, comfort, and sustaining fellowship in every aspect of suffering. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes:

"John Piper and friends tackle some of the hardest and most significant issues of Christian concern, producing one of the most honest, faithful, and helpful volumes ever made available to thinking Christians. It is filled with pastoral wisdom, theological conviction, biblical insight, and spiritual counsel. This book answers one of the greatest needs of our times—to affirm the sovereignty of God and to ponder the meaning of human suffering. We need this book."
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We had a tremendous turnout for the September kick-off luncheon with Governor Haley Barbour, with over 300 men in attendance. If you were not able to attend, please take the opportunity to check out the recording from the bookstore. As we turn our sights ahead to October, it is a great privilege to have Dr. Roger Parrott, President of Belhaven College, joining us as we continue our series on Christ-like leadership. Dr. Parrott is a third-generation college president and was one of America’s youngest college presidents elected at age 34. He serves the broader Church as a member of the Executive Committee of Mission America, as well as on the Executive Committee for World Evangelism. In 2004, Dr. Parrott was the chairman of the Forum for World Evangelism held in Thailand. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a fellowship meal followed by a time of study from the Word on the characteristics of Christ-like leadership. Please make plans to attend.

The luncheon will be held in Miller Hall. The cost is $5.00 and reservations are not required. Please contact Ashley Hall in the Discipleship Office if you have any questions: ashleyh@fpcjackson.org or 601-973-9118.
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Sunday, September 24, 2006

God’s New Family: An Exposition of Ephesians (LV)God’s Household Rules: Marriage and Family (10)

The Nurture and Admonition of the LordEphesians 6:4

Introduction:1. Last week, as we looked at Ephesians 6:1-3, we said that Christian children, in order to live out the Gospel in the home, in order to live out their embrace of the Lordship of Christ, must obey their parents, because it is right, commanded and rewarded2. We also saw that Paul gives three reasons or motivation to Christian children for obedience. . .I. Christian children are to obey their parents because it is the right thing to do (1)[The obedience of children to parents is rooted in the natural, created order]1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.II. Christian children are to obey their parents because God has commanded it in his word (2)[The obedience of children is based on the express command of God]2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTHIII. Christian children are to obey their parents because of God’s gracious promise (3)[The obedience of children is accompanied by a gracious promise from God]2 . . . (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH3. Paul turns to Christian parents and gives them a profound directive regarding the Christian nurture of their children. It begins with a negative and moves to a positive command. Do not . . . but.

Ephesians 6:4 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I. Christian parents (and especially fathers) are to take care not to provoke their children (4a)4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,Parallel in Col 3:21 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart."

Not a directive indicating that we must never make our children angry! Rather, Christian parents must – (Thanks to Wayne Mack, in Strengthening Your Marriage, for these ideas)1. Not expect more or less of our children than they are capable of doing or giving.2. Be careful about the way we reprimand and correct.3. Practice what you preach. Avoid double standards or hypocrisy.4. Impart the faith via prayer, personal example, precept (in that order)5. Cultivate good times with our children.6. Freely communicate love and affection.7. Allow them to fail and make mistakes–let them know love not conditioned on perfection.8. Make expectations, rules and regulations know to them, and reasonable.9. Admit our mistakes, sins and ask forgiveness when we fail them.10. Make it easy and desirable for them to approach us.

II. Christian parents are to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (4b) 4 Fathers, . . . bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The Third baptismal vow taken by parents at a covenantal baptism

3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before (him) a godly example, that you will pray with and for (him), that you will teach (him) the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God's appointment, to bring (him) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

"Every autumn I have a spate of letters from fond parents, teachers, guardians, and monitors, appealing to me to follow up on such and such a youngster who is away from home at college for the first time, and who has to be hunted, followed, shadowed, intercepted and driven to Christian meetings. I have scarcely ever known this desperate technique to work. I understand the panic of parents and guardians, but it is too late then to try high pressure tactics. Prayer, example and precept, in that order, are the means of bringing up children and young folk in the faith. Nor will high pressure tactics and brainwashing techniques avail when young folk have gone off on their own. Some young folk, alas, will have their fling and sow their wild oats, and come at last to heel, sadly, like the prodigal son. It is where Christians pathetically put their trust in external techniques and artificial stratagems that young folk go astray. Nothing takes the place of the realism of holy living and secret wrestling before God in prayer for our youngsters. We must commit them to God so utterly that we dare not interfere or tamper with their precious souls."(William Still, late Pastor of Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen, Scotland)
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Saturday, September 23, 2006

What it means to be a member of First Presbyterian Church:The Five Questions of Membership (2)Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, receiving and resting upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the GospelActs 16:31; Matthew 16:15-16; John 1:29; Acts 4:12

Introduction (review):1. Church membership matters: Matthew 18:20; 1 Timothy 3:15-162. Last week, we looked at the first question of membership: (1) Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?3. In this question we acknowledge that we are (1) sinners, (2) justly condemned and (3) without hope (apart from Christ).4. In our study of this question, and more importantly, the Scripture behind and under it, we said all true Christians acknowledge these three things: I. We are sinners (Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, . . . Application: *Cheer up, things are worse than you think they are. *Dealing with sin by embracing/acknowledging it, not denial. *We go to the cross through our sin, not around it; II. We are rightly condemned (Romans 2:1-2) Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. ) Do you acknowledge yourselves to . . . justly deserve His displeasure, . . . Application: Problem is us, not them/problem is in us, not outside of us. Solution, thus, is not in us. No blameshifting; III. Our only hope is in God’s mercy (Romans 5:6, 8) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be . . . without hope save in His sovereign mercy? Application: The first step towards real hope is acknowledging that there is no hope anywhere but in God’s mercy. All other hopes are false.5. Today, we come to the second question of membership: (2) Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the gospel?

Christians have faith in Christ’s person and work, alone.

(1) Faith; (2) Person; (3) Work; (4) Alone

I. All true Christians have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31)[What does it mean to have saving faith in Jesus?] Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ . . . and . . . receive and trust Him . . . as He is offered in the gospel?Believe -Acts 16:31 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."Receive -John 1:12-13 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.Mark 9:37 37 "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."Trust -2 Corinthians 1:9 9 . . . we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;Biblical GospelGalatians 1:6-8 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

II. All true Christians embrace the Bible’s teaching about Christ’s person (Matthew 16:16)[What does it mean to believe in Jesus, as Lord, Messiah and Divine?] Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of GodMatthew 16:15-16 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."John 20:31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30,31)Romans 10:9 . . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

III. All true Christians embrace the Bible’s teaching about Christ’s saving work (John 1:29)[What does it mean to believe in Jesus as Savior?] Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as . . . Savior of sinners?John 1:29 (the words of John the Baptist)The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

IV. All true Christians recognize that Christ is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12)[What does it mean to have faith in Christ alone] Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ . . . and . . . Him alone for salvation . . . ?Acts 4:12 12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." WSC Q86
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Friday, September 22, 2006

Christianity Today ran a nice story this month on the resurgence of Calvinism among the younger generation. It focuses on Together for the Gospel (a conference in which I participated with Mark Dever, Al Mohler and C.J. Mahaney) and on a number of friends of First Pres. Jackson (like Kent Hughes, John Piper, Tim Keller, etc). Check it out here.
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

In keeping with Derek's "Dreaming" theme, allow me to show off some of my wife Cindy's autumn photographs along with two of my favorite "October" poems. At this time of year I am, in Frost's words, not "averse to being beguiled." But, of course, I know my pilgrimage leads elsewhere. Ironically, those who worship nature (Pantheism is quite "hot" these days) actually silence it. But when we empty nature of "divinities" we fill it with "Deity." The Pantheist, as Lewis points out, is "so impressed with postman's uniform that he omitted to take in the letters." Autumn tells the glory of God; the beauty declares the work of his hands!

O hushed October morning mild,Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;To-morrow's wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.The crows above the forest call;To-morrow they may form and go.O hushed October morning mild,Begin the hours of this day slow,Make the day seem to us less brief.Hearts not averse to being beguiled,Beguile us in the way you know;Release one leaf at break of day;At noon release another leaf;One from our trees, one far away;Retard the sun with gentle mist;Enchant the land with amethyst.Slow, slow!For the grapes' sake, if they were all,Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,Whose clustered fruit must else be lost--For the grapes' sake along the wall.

Robert Frost

October woods whereinThe boy's dream comes to pass,And Nature squanders on the boy her pomp,And crowns him with a more than royal crown,And unimagined splendor waits his steps.The gazing urchin walks through tents of gold,Through crimson chambers, porphyry and pearl,Pavilion on pavilion, garlanded,Incensed and starred with lights and airs and shapes,Color and sound, music to eye and ear,Beyond the best conceit of pomp and power.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I read the other day that a contestant on a popular quiz show, you know the one -- where one of the options is to "call a friend" (it is soooo popular, I don't even know it's name, but I'm sure you all do); in any case, the option was chosen because the contestant obviously did not know who Joshua Bell was!

Mr. Bell was playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in London a few weeks ago (I managed to listen in "live" on the Internet) and heard a fascinating discussion about how the latest security issues have hampered musicians engaging in air-travel. A priceless Stradivarius violin, the kind that Mr. Bell plays, is not something you want to put "in the hold".

Which makes me think:

A Stradivarius violin made by cutting and sanding and glueing various kinds of wood enters into its glory when, after an aging process, a violinist of the calibre of Mr. Bell makes it sing. The true glory of any instrument comes when it is doing what it is made for. It gains its dignity and worth by showing us what it can do.

And we were made for worship. Only as we do so do we display the dignity for which we were designed. Sin, on the other is "to fall short of the glory" (Rom. 3:23). Only as sin is removed (by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone) can we truly glorify God and be what we were meant to be.
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Sunday, September 17, 2006

Introduction:Ephesians 6:1-3 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

Christian children, in order to live out the Gospel in the home, in order to live out their embrace of the Lordship of Christ, must obey their parents, because it is right, commanded and rewarded

Paul gives three reasons or motivation to Christian children for obedience . . .

I. Christian children are to obey their parents because it is the right thing to do (1) [The obedience of children to parents is rooted in the natural, created order]1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

II. Christian children are to obey their parents because God has commanded it in his word (2) [The obedience of children is based on the express command of God]2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH

III. Christian children are to obey their parents because of God’s gracious promise (3) [The obedience of children is accompanied by a gracious promise from God]2 . . . (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH

Applications to children of different ages and life stages:Younger children in the homeGrown children on their ownGrown children caring for aged parents

Applications to different kinds of responsibilities, problems and challenges:Care of older parents and the pressure this sometimes entails for young marriagesParents trying to relate as equals to childrenDisrespect for parental authority on the part of young peopleWhat about the exceptions? Abusive parents, incompetent or neglectful parents
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Saturday, September 16, 2006

What it means to be a member of First Presbyterian Church:The Five Questions of Membership (1)Romans 3:23; Romans 2:1-2; Romans 5:6,8

Introduction (review):1. Church membership matters: Matthew 18:20; 1 Timothy 3:15-162. FPCJ first question of membership: (1) Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?3. Each of our five membership questions are biblical.4. In the first question (above) we acknowledge that we are (1) sinners, (2) justly condemned and (3) without hope (apart from Christ).

I. All true Christians acknowledge that they are sinners[A sinner] (Romans 3:23)23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, . . .1. This is an unpopular teaching, but it can be empirically verified!A. Offense this teaching caused in Bible times: prophets, John the Baptist, JesusB. Denial of doctrine by liberals (Miserable-Sinner Christianity in the Hands of the Rationalists - Warfield)C. Denial of doctrine by TV preachers

2. Until this truth about ourselves is admitted, the Gospel does not make sense.3. Thus, Jesus’ very first word in preaching was "repent," so also John and Peter4. Are Christians saying to non-Christians, you’re bad and we’re not (We’re from the government and we’re here to help you! No! One beggar telling another where we found bread. We are not the fellowship of the "arrived" (Phil 3:12-14)5. The reality of ongoing sin in the Christian life (Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:8)Application: *Cheer up, things are worse than you think they are. *The way to the cross is through your own sin, not around it *We must deal with our own sinfulness by embracing its reality, not through denial.

II. All true Christians acknowledge that they are rightly condemned[Justly condemned] (Romans 2:1-2)1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. )Do you acknowledge yourselves to . . . justly deserve His displeasure, . . .1. Not only have we admitted our sin, admitted the truth about ourselves, we have admitted the God’s judgment against us is just. This is not the typical reaction of people who are judged. Ask any judge or lawyer.2. David’s case (2 Samuel 12 - David did exactly what Paul describes here in Rom 2:1-2)Application: Problem is us, not them/problem is in us, not outside of us. Solution, thus, is not in us. No blameshifting

III. All true Christians acknowledge that their only hope is in God’s mercy[Without hope, apart from the sovereign saving mercy of God] (Romans 5:6, 8)6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly . . . 8 . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Do you acknowledge yourselves to be . . . without hope save in His sovereign mercy?

Thursday, September 14, 2006

I'm dreaming of rural life again. It was something that flitted through my brain last night in the middle of a sermon (I was the preacher and its Ok for preachers to day-dream in a sermon if he is the one doing the day-dreaming; otherwise, it's the penalty box). It was Wordsworthian: "I wandered lonely as a cloud... when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils." In my case, it wasn't daffodils, but sheep! And memories of a youth spent on a rural landscape in West Wales. And for a moment at least, in the words of Balloo (of Jungle Book fame), "I was goooone, man!"

Rural dreams have a powerful grip. Wordsworth's nature mysticism sounds notes for me that are almost irresistible. Meadows, streams, birds... these call me away from the klaxon-filled noise of urban life with its neon and polystyrene and ersatz coffee cream that surround us now. I dream of far-away lands, only to discover that the tales of Odysseus and Frodo and The Flying Dutchman insist that life moves on relentlessly. But not without some signs, here and there, that there are certain things that herald Paradise, the world as it should be, and will be. Like a ruined castle (as Calvin puts it), this world still displays some memory of a better past, and anticipates (in its groaning and travailing in birth, as Paul would put it) a new creation where their faint beauties will be restored to an indescribable glory.
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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

"Believers just don't see themselves the way the media and politicians — or even their pastors — do, according to the national survey of 1,721 Americans, by far the most comprehensive national religion survey to date. Written and analyzed by sociologists from Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion, in Waco, Texas, and conducted by Gallup, the survey asked 77 questions with nearly 400 answer choices that burrowed deeply into beliefs, practices and religious ties and turned up some surprising findings."

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The picture has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm writing about this morning. It's just that I can't let Brad have all the nice photos! This one (which I took in Switzerland) is of glacier water melting from some higher elevation of the Jungfrau and gushing forth out of a rock.

[But check out the lines of the hymn, "All the Way My Savior Leads Me"]

I thought this morning that I'd allure you into thinking about something I want to talk about in the next couple of weeks on Wednesday evenings as we continue to examine the meteoric contribution of Stephen in Acts 6 & 7. Next week, after Stephen's sermon is over and his doom written, he will be killed. But as he dies, he does something that adds further insult to injury as far as the Sanhedrin was concerned. He prayed to Jesus (Acts 7:59-60)! The confounded Pliny wrote to Emperor Trajan about the early Christians, "They even sang a hymn to Christ as if to a god."

From the earliest days of the church, Jesus was the center of their devotional life. Believers were baptized in the name of Jesus, and they celebrated their most sacred meal by partaking of bread and wine meant to represent the body and blood of Jesus. As later creeds formalized this, they did not represent any growth in the magnification of Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, they understood him to be none other than the Lord of glory.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Good theology and a good cup of coffee, can it get any better? Coffee means reflection, conversation, a good book, fellowship, and friendship. But, alas, no matter what I say, some of you will understand this article and some of you won't. This is for all of you who are adherents to the booming coffee culture. (This is really for Derek Thomas, who, by the way, preached an absolute work of art yesterday morning--get the tape.)Read more...

Sunday, September 10, 2006

God’s New Family: An Exposition of Ephesians (LIII)God’s Household Rules: Marriage and Family (8) Marriage and Union with ChristEphesians 5:30-33

Introduction (review):1. Tonight, we come to the end of our study of an extraordinary passage of Scripture, Ephesians 5:22-33.2. Just to refresh our memories, let’s outline the whole passage one more time. There is a command, followed by and analogy, then another command, followed by three analogies or illustrations.3. Here, again, is an outline of Paul’s argument in this passage:

[22-24] 1. The Command to Christian Wives - Be subject to your husbands (22)* Analogy - Like the church is subject to Christ (23)a. Elaboration - Be subject to your husbands like the church is to Christ, comprehensively[25-30] 2. The Command to Christian Husbands - Love your wives (25a)* Analogy #1 - Like Christ loved the church (25b)a. Elaboration #1 - Christ’s love is manifest supremely in the atonement (25c)b. Elaboration #2 - Purpose of Christ loving the church - to sanctify her (26)c. Elaboration #3 - Ultimate goal: the glory of the church in holiness and perfection (27)* Analogy #2 - Love your wife in the same way you take care of yourself (28a)a. Elaboration #1 - in a real sense you are caring for your own self when you love your wife (28b)b. Elaboration #2 - that means, specifically, nourishing and cherishing her (29a)c. Elaboration #3 - just as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, as members of his own body (30)[30-33] 3. The Conclusion - Christian marriage can only be understood and rightly lived in light of union with Christ* Analogy #3 - Union with Christ (esp. 32)a. We are parts of Christ’s body (30)b. Husband and wife are one flesh, one body (31)c. The mystery of union with Christ (32)d. Husbands, love your wives and wives respect your husbands, in light of union with Christ (33)4. We have spent three weeks and four sermons reflecting on the love command to husbands, and we have said repeatedly, in light of what we’ve already learned in Ephesians, in light of what Paul says here and elsewhere, that God calls Christian husbands to a radical, God-originated, Gospel-based, Grace-empowered, Spirit-wrought, Atonement-illustrated, Christ-emulating, self-denying love for our wives — in which we seek to serve our wives and to care for our wives’ best spiritual and temporal interests.5. We’ve emphasized that husbands are to love their wives in light of Christ’s atonement, and in light of the unique closeness and sharing of the marital union (one flesh). Your bride is your body.6. Tonight, we come to the last analogy that Paul gives to Christian husbands as to how we are to love our wives.

God expects Christian husbands to love their wives, in light of the staggering mystery and privilege of union with Christ, and God expects Christian wives to respect their husbands in light of the staggering mystery and privilege of union with Christ

I. We are united to Christ, and thus members of his body (30)30 because we are members of His body.

II. Husband and wife are one flesh (31)31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

III. The union of Christ and his church (his body) –reflected in Christian marriage– is a great mystery (32)32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

IV. Consequently, since we share in that union and image that union, Christian husbands must love their wives and Christian wives respect their husbands (33)33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

God’s New Family: An Exposition of Ephesians (LIII)God’s Household Rules: Marriage and Family (8) Marriage and Union with ChristEphesians 5:30-33

Introduction (review):1. Tonight, we come to the end of our study of an extraordinary passage of Scripture, Ephesians 5:22-33.2. Just to refresh our memories, let’s outline the whole passage one more time. There is a command, followed by and analogy, then another command, followed by three analogies or illustrations.3. Here, again, is an outline of Paul’s argument in this passage:

[22-24] 1. The Command to Christian Wives - Be subject to your husbands (22)* Analogy - Like the church is subject to Christ (23)a. Elaboration - Be subject to your husbands like the church is to Christ, comprehensively[25-30] 2. The Command to Christian Husbands - Love your wives (25a)* Analogy #1 - Like Christ loved the church (25b)a. Elaboration #1 - Christ’s love is manifest supremely in the atonement (25c)b. Elaboration #2 - Purpose of Christ loving the church - to sanctify her (26)c. Elaboration #3 - Ultimate goal: the glory of the church in holiness and perfection (27)* Analogy #2 - Love your wife in the same way you take care of yourself (28a)a. Elaboration #1 - in a real sense you are caring for your own self when you love your wife (28b)b. Elaboration #2 - that means, specifically, nourishing and cherishing her (29a)c. Elaboration #3 - just as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, as members of his own body (30)[30-33] 3. The Conclusion - Christian marriage can only be understood and rightly lived in light of union with Christ* Analogy #3 - Union with Christ (esp. 32)a. We are parts of Christ’s body (30)b. Husband and wife are one flesh, one body (31)c. The mystery of union with Christ (32)d. Husbands, love your wives and wives respect your husbands, in light of union with Christ (33)4. We have spent three weeks and four sermons reflecting on the love command to husbands, and we have said repeatedly, in light of what we’ve already learned in Ephesians, in light of what Paul says here and elsewhere, that God calls Christian husbands to a radical, God-originated, Gospel-based, Grace-empowered, Spirit-wrought, Atonement-illustrated, Christ-emulating, self-denying love for our wives — in which we seek to serve our wives and to care for our wives’ best spiritual and temporal interests.5. We’ve emphasized that husbands are to love their wives in light of Christ’s atonement, and in light of the unique closeness and sharing of the marital union (one flesh). Your bride is your body.6. Tonight, we come to the last analogy that Paul gives to Christian husbands as to how we are to love our wives.

God expects Christian husbands to love their wives, in light of the staggering mystery and privilege of union with Christ, and God expects Christian wives to respect their husbands in light of the staggering mystery and privilege of union with Christ

I. We are united to Christ, and thus members of his body (30)30 because we are members of His body.

II. Husband and wife are one flesh (31)31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

III. The union of Christ and his church (his body) –reflected in Christian marriage– is a great mystery (32)32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

IV. Consequently, since we share in that union and image that union, Christian husbands must love their wives and Christian wives respect their husbands (33)33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?Where is the knowledge we lost in information?

T.S. Eliot

Autumn is by far my favorite time of year. I know it's not here yet. In Mississippi it may not arrive until November! But I'm ready. I live for a chill in the air, colored leaves, tailgating, the smell of burning wood, hot coffee, long walks, and our annual trip to New England. But most importantly for me, autumn invites reflection. The creation speaks: "Stop, look, listen." It says, "Think carefully about the paths you choose." It declares, "It's not about you. It's about something beautiful, glorious, breath-taking, and overwhelming." Re-evaluate, embrace what is important, go a different direction. Stand up to the tyranny of busyness and tune out the techno-clutter. The heavens are telling the glory of God! Do you hear it? How will you respond? Which path will you take?

Hear the Psalmist:

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

[2] Day to day pours forth speech,

And night to night reveals knowledge.

[3] There is no speech, nor are there words;

Their voice is not heard.

[4] Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their utterances to the end of the world (Psalm 19:1-4).

Hear Anne Bradstreet, America's first English speaking poet:

Sometime now past in the Autumnal Tide,When Phoebus [the sun] wanted but one hour to bed,The trees all richly clad, yet void of pride,Were gilded o're by his rich golden head.Their leaves and fruits seem'd painted but was trueOf green, of red, of yellow, mixed hew,Rapt were my senses at this delectable view.I wist not what to wish, yet sure thought I,If so much excellence abide below,How excellent is he that dwells on high?

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

The elixir of life -- it has always had its appeal. How to prevent those wrinkles, the sagging muscles, the graying hair (I'd personally settle for any color at the minute!).

I read in the Times newspaper that a "wellbeing centre" in Kensington (just think, I was in Kensignton just a few weeks ago!) has opened under the management of Carolan Brown (yes, spelled that way). She, as some of you might recall, was the personal trainer to the late Lady Diana. The "Soma Centre" has devised a new day programme that offers to "empower and educate you to look and feel over 80,000 hours (ten years) young in mind, body and spirit". All that in just one day.

Ten years can do a lot of damage! Think of poor Naomi in Moab. Bereavement etched some nasty lines in her as the Bethlehem women were quick to point out when, ten years later, she returned to the sounds of, "Can this be Naomi?" (Ruth 1:19). Not much Southern tact there!

The "Centre" is designed, of course, to extract money -- lots of money -- from folk who don't want to face the reality that death will take us all. There is a dis-ease with death and the aging process that takes us there. The promise of the elixir of life, some magic potion or cream that will enable us to live an extra year or two, is a powerful incentive to part with whatever it takes. A story this week of a Southern Californian woman (was she 110? And making her own muesli?) made me wonder why anyone would desire to live that long.

Even among Christians, the desire to live longer and longer lives is strong. Medicine increasingly holds the promise of life in three digits, but without the assurance of dignity. Personally, I'll be content with three score years and ten.
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Sunday, September 03, 2006

God’s New Family: An Exposition of Ephesians (LII)God’s Household Rules: Marriage and Family (7)

Love Your Wife (4)Ephesians 5:28-30

Introduction (review):1. As we continue our study of Ephesians 5:25-29, a passage that spells out God’s expectations for Christian husbands, let’s recall the outline of Paul’s argument. There is a command, followed by two analogies or illustrations. This morning we will consider the first analogy or illustration. This evening we will consider the second.2. Here, again, is an outline of Paul’s argument in this passage:1. The Command - Love your wives (25a)2. Analogy #1 - Like Christ loved the church (25b)a. Purpose of Christ loving the church - to sanctify her (26)b. Ultimate goal - the glory of the church in holiness and perfection (27)3. Analogy #2 - Love your wife in the same way you take care of yourself (28a)a. Elaboration #1 - in a real sense you are caring for your own self when you love your wife (28b)b. Elaboration #2 - that means, specifically, nourishing and cherishing her (29a)c. Elaboration #3 - just as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, as members of his own body3. We have spent two weeks reflecting on the love command to husbands, and we have said repeatedly, in light of what we’ve already learned in Ephesians, in light of what Paul says here and elsewhere, that God calls Christian husbands to a radical, God-originated, Gospel-based, Grace-empowered, Spirit-wrought, Atonement-illustrated, Christ-emulating, self-denying love for our wives — in which we seek to serve our wives and to care for our wives’ best spiritual and temporal interests4. This morning, we looked at Paul’s elaborations on the love command in Ephesians 5:25-27 and saw four specific points: (1) church, (2) atonement, (3) sanctification, (4) glory.5. Tonight, we turn to the following section of this great passage, and consider the second analogy/illustration that Paul gives for the purpose of instructing husbands on how to love their wives.6. At first it may appear that Paul is appealing to base self-interest, but we quickly see that he has something deeper in mind (and verses 31-33 confirm this).

Paul says that God expects Christian husbands to love their wives, by nourishing and cherishing them the way would their own bodies, because of the way Christ cares for his body, the church - that is

I. Love your wife as your own body/self[Husbands, love your wives, as your own bodies] (28)28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

II. Love your wife as you care for your own body/self[Love your wife by nourishing and cherishing her] (29a)29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,

III. Love your wife in light of Christ’s love for the members of his body[Husbands, love your wives, as your own bodies] (29b-30)29 . . . just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.

Introduction (review):1. As we continue our study of Ephesians 5:25-29, a passage that spells out God’s expectations for Christian husbands, let’s recall the outline of Paul’s argument. There is a command, followed by two analogies or illustrations. This morning we will consider the first analogy or illustration. This evening we will consider the second.

2. Here, again, is an outline of Paul’s argument in this passage:

1. The Command - Love your wives (25a)

2. Analogy #1 - Like Christ loved the church (25b)

a. Purpose of Christ loving the church - to sanctify her (26)

b. Ultimate goal - the glory of the church in holiness and perfection (27)

3. Analogy #2 - Love your wife in the same way you take care of yourself (28a)

a. Elaboration #1 - you are caring for your own self when you love your wife (28b)

3. We have spent two weeks reflecting on the love command to husbands, and we have said repeatedly, in light of what we’ve already learned in Ephesians, in light of what Paul says here and elsewhere, that God calls Christian husbands to a radical, God-originated, Gospel-based, Grace-empowered, Spirit-wrought, Atonement-illustrated, Christ-emulating, self-denying love for our wives — in which we seek to serve our wives and to care for our wives’ best spiritual and temporal interests4. Today we want to look at Paul’s elaborations on the love command in Ephesians 5:25-27 and see four specific points: (1) church, (2) atonement, (3) sanctification, (4) glory.

Ephesians 5:25-27 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Paul says that God expects Christian husbands to love their wives like Christ loved the church

and that means:

I. Loving our wives in light of Christ’s special love for his bride, the church[just as Christ also loved the church] (25b)25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church

II. Loving our wives in light of Christ’s work on the cross, his atonement[just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her] (25c)25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

III. Loving our wives with a view to her growth in grace, her sanctification[so that He might sanctify her] (26)26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

IV. Loving our wives in light of/with a view to glorification, their future glory[the church in all her glory] (27)27 that He might present to Himselfthe church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Some on you may have discovered an article in today's Clarion-Ledger reporting that: "The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . . . Presbyterian Publishing Corporation has issued Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9-11, (Westminster John Knox) containing perhaps the most incendiary accusations leveled by a writer for a mainline Protestant book house. Author David Ray Griffin tells of concluding that 'the Bush-Cheney administration had orchestrated 9-11 in order to promote this (American) empire under the pretext of the so-called war on terror.''No other interpretation is possible,' he asserts. His conspiracy theory includes criminal involvement of the U.S. military and collusion by members of the 9-11 Commission, politicians of both parties and American journalists, who willfully ignored the plot, he says. Such a massive cover-up is possible, he explains, because people don't want to believe high officials would 'launch an attack on their own citizens.'"

The article is by the excellent AP religion writer Richard Ostling. The book is by David Ray Griffin, and the PPC website provides further details.

Well, just to be clear, that's not our Presbyterians. We are part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). And this is just one of the reasons for that. However, I can't imagine that many of my friends and colleagues in the PC (USA) are very happy about this either.

A couple of thoughts come to mind:

1. Every Christian who is a citizen of these United States ought to have well-formed moral/political opinions. But it is not the church's business to propogate them.

2. It is perfectly okay for Christians to disagree with aspects of the public policy (domestic and foreign) of our government, but I cannot conceive of a good reason why a denominational publisher would be interested in producing this type of reality break induced, conspiracy theory promoting, seething, partisan material masquerading as serious theological reflection.
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